Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/series/breaking-free-from-narcissistic-abuse/ Confused by your relationship? Do you catch yourself second-guessing, walking on eggshells, or feeling emotionally drained? Whether you’re still in the chaos or trying to rebuild after leaving, this podcast is your lifeline.Join retired psychologist Dr. Kerry McAvoy as she exposes the hidden dynamics of toxic relationships. You’ll learn how destructive personalities operate, the manipulative tactics they use, and the stages of abuse—plus the practical steps to heal and reclaim your life.If you’re ready to break free, rebuild your self-worth, and find lasting emotional freedom, hit play and start your recovery journey today. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:18:09 +0000 en © 2025 Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse all about creating healthier relationships Kerry McAvoy, Ph.D. episodic Confused by your relationship? Do you catch yourself second-guessing, walking on eggshells, or feeling emotionally drained? Whether you’re still in the chaos or trying to rebuild after leaving, this podcast is your lifeline.Join retired psychologist Dr. Kerry McAvoy as she exposes the hidden dynamics of toxic relationships. You’ll learn how destructive personalities operate, the manipulative tactics they use, and the stages of abuse—plus the practical steps to heal and reclaim your life.If you’re ready to break free, rebuild your self-worth, and find lasting emotional freedom, hit play and start your recovery journey today. Kerry McAvoy, Ph.D. hello@breakingfreenarcissisticabuse.com false https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/igt4bmhu45618wxmbwax5ralrotn-1.jpg Breaking Free from Narcissistic Abuse https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/series/breaking-free-from-narcissistic-abuse/ hello@breakingfreenarcissisticabuse.com Confused by your relationship? Do you catch yourself second-guessing, walking on eggshells, or feeling emotionally drained? Whether you’re still in the chaos or trying to rebuild after leaving, this podcast is your lifeline.Join retired psychologist Dr. Kerry McAvoy as she exposes the hidden dynamics of toxic relationships. You’ll learn how destructive personalities operate, the manipulative tactics they use, and the stages of abuse—plus the practical steps to heal and reclaim your life.If you’re ready to break free, rebuild your self-worth, and find lasting emotional freedom, hit play and start your recovery journey today. No 5cd80628-9064-584b-aef9-be48a76624eb https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 I Treated Narcissists for Years and Never Saw a Collapse — Here’s What Really Happens https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/i-treated-narcissists-for-years-and-never-saw-a-collapse-heres-what-really-happens/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 a122105b-4a36-5bba-b7a1-34556971f96c Why did the narcissist’s collapse look so real — curled on the floor, shaking, sweating, begging you not to leave — yet nothing changed after? What looks like a breakdown is often a temporary loss of status, not a loss of identity — the defensive structure drops for 30 seconds, then rapidly reconsolidates and the ... Read more

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]]> Why did the narcissist’s collapse look so real — curled on the floor, shaking, sweating, begging you not to leave — yet nothing changed after? What looks like a breakdown is often a temporary loss of status, not a loss of identity — the defensive structure drops for 30 seconds, then rapidly reconsolidates and the ... Read more

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]]> https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Viewers-Stories-Square-Cover-Art-10.40.25-PM.png I Treated Narcissists for Years and Never Saw a Collapse — Here’s What Really Happens false no 00:27:01 No no He Fooled Every Therapist in the Room — What No One Warns You (feat. Chelsey Brooke Cole) https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/therapist-chelsey-brooke-cole-he-fooled-every-therapist-in-the-room-what-no-one-warns-you/ Mon, 07 Sep 2026 06:11:04 +0000 5f3c072c-3798-5b57-833e-b91d4e67004e What if the trait everyone praises you for is the exact one the narcissist is scanning for? That isn’t naivety. That isn’t missing the red flags. Agreeableness — assuming people are honest, wanting harmony, believing no one would be cruel on purpose — is a readable personality profile, and predators read it faster than you ... Read more

The post He Fooled Every Therapist in the Room — What No One Warns You (feat. Chelsey Brooke Cole) appeared first on Kerry McAvoy, PhD.

]]> What if the trait everyone praises you for is the exact one the narcissist is scanning for? That isn’t naivety. That isn’t missing the red flags. Agreeableness — assuming people are honest, wanting harmony, believing no one would be cruel on purpose — is a readable personality profile, and predators read it faster than you ... Read more

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]]> https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Podcast-Thumbnail-Template.png He Fooled Every Therapist in the Room — What No One Warns You (feat. Chelsey Brooke Cole) false no 00:32:58 No no The Family Scapegoat: Why You Were Chosen, and Why It Was Never About You https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/the-family-scapegoat-why-you-were-chosen-and-why-it-was-never-about-you/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:32:04 +0000 cdc909e7-2efc-51ac-af3e-fca9382ecac2 Why does one person in the family end up carrying everything — the blame, the mood, the thing nobody will say out loud? That wasn't a flaw in you. That was a role, and someone cast you in it.  Scapegoating is bullying that a family agrees not to stop, and it works because it holds ... Read more

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]]> Why does one person in the family end up carrying everything — the blame, the mood, the thing nobody will say out loud? That wasn't a flaw in you. That was a role, and someone cast you in it.  Scapegoating is bullying that a family agrees not to stop, and it works because it holds ... Read more

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]]> https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Viewers-Stories-Square-Cover-Art-1.png The Family Scapegoat: Why You Were Chosen, and Why It Was Never About You false no 00:17:46 No no How Narcissists Pick Their Victims in Under an Hour https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/how-narcissists-pick-their-victims-in-under-an-hour/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:32:36 +0000 70047075-0251-57f8-879a-9b1a6f90dabd What if it only takes him an hour to know exactly how to control you? That wasn't chemistry. That wasn't “instant connection.” A predator ran a background check on your character to know if you had the exact traits he needs to exploit. In this episode, Dr. Kerry sits down with returning author and expert, ... Read more

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]]> What if it only takes him an hour to know exactly how to control you? That wasn't chemistry. That wasn't “instant connection.” A predator ran a background check on your character to know if you had the exact traits he needs to exploit. In this episode, Dr. Kerry sits down with returning author and expert, ... Read more

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]]> https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Podcast-Thumbnail-Template-1-1.png How Narcissists Pick Their Victims in Under an Hour false no 00:35:21 No no Rumination After Narcissistic Abuse: Why Your Mind Won’t Stop, and How to Break the Loop https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/rumination-after-narcissistic-abuse-why-your-mind-wont-stop-and-how-to-break-the-loop/ Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:43:19 +0000 https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/rumination-after-narcissistic-abuse-why-your-mind-wont-stop-and-how-to-break-the-loop/ Why do you keep replaying a relationship that's already over — running the same five minutes on a loop, searching for the one detail that will finally make sense of it? That wasn't you overthinking. That was your nervous system trying to close a case file that has no ending. You survived a partner who ... Read more

The post Rumination After Narcissistic Abuse: Why Your Mind Won’t Stop, and How to Break the Loop appeared first on Kerry McAvoy, PhD.

]]> Why do you keep replaying a relationship that's already over — running the same five minutes on a loop, searching for the one detail that will finally make sense of it? That wasn't you overthinking. That was your nervous system trying to close a case file that has no ending. You survived a partner who ... Read more

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]]> https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Viewers-Stories-Square-Cover-Art-4.png Rumination After Narcissistic Abuse: Why Your Mind Won’t Stop, and How to Break the Loop false no 00:24:05 No no The Narcissist Relationship Cycle: Why They Get Bored and Repeat It https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/the-narcissist-relationship-cycle-why-they-get-bored-and-repeat-it/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:56:14 +0000 73ea91b6-8af1-5dc0-8987-fec163127add What if the reason they keep coming back to you has nothing to do with love — and everything to do with boredom?  In this episode, Dr. Kerry and Lynn Strathdee break down the internal clock that drives narcissistic relationship cycles. How pathological partners idealize, withdraw, only to circle back. This isn’t about the victim—it’s ... Read more

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]]> What if the reason they keep coming back to you has nothing to do with love — and everything to do with boredom?  In this episode, Dr. Kerry and Lynn Strathdee break down the internal clock that drives narcissistic relationship cycles. How pathological partners idealize, withdraw, only to circle back. This isn’t about the victim—it’s ... Read more

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]]> https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Podcast-Thumbnail-Template-3.png The Narcissist Relationship Cycle: Why They Get Bored and Repeat It false no 00:26:40 No no The Narcissist’s Hit-And-Run Tactic: Why They Leave You Feeling Crazy https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/the-attack-and-block-trick-how-they-weaponize-i-refuse-to-engage/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:53:06 +0000 6bda302d-0cd8-5467-b025-bd0bbc1aa8eb They said they'd “never talk to you again” — like it was a boundary. Like it was healthy. But the silence never actually stayed silent. Behind your back, a different story was already being told behind your back. And when you reach out, you’re blocked. This is a smear campaign with a “no contact” mask ... Read more

The post The Narcissist’s Hit-And-Run Tactic: Why They Leave You Feeling Crazy appeared first on Kerry McAvoy, PhD.

]]> They said they'd “never talk to you again” — like it was a boundary. Like it was healthy. But the silence never actually stayed silent. Behind your back, a different story was already being told behind your back. And when you reach out, you’re blocked. This is a smear campaign with a “no contact” mask ... Read more

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]]> https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Viewers-Stories-Square-Cover-Art-3.png The Narcissist’s Hit-And-Run Tactic: Why They Leave You Feeling Crazy false no 00:12:48 No no Divorce Attorney Diana Romanov: Why Being Nice to a Narcissist Can Leave You Homeless https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/the-abuse-doesnt-stop-at-divorce-what-narcissists-do-next/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 06:12:07 +0000 https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/the-abuse-doesnt-stop-at-divorce-what-narcissists-do-next/ The divorce papers are signed. The marriage is over. But for survivors of narcissistic abuse, the legal system is often where the abuse escalates — not ends.   In this conversation, Kerry McAvoy and Family Law Attorney Diana Romanov decode the legal tactics narcissists weaponize after you leave. How conflict avoidance becomes your abuser’s most ... Read more

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]]> The divorce papers are signed. The marriage is over. But for survivors of narcissistic abuse, the legal system is often where the abuse escalates — not ends.   In this conversation, Kerry McAvoy and Family Law Attorney Diana Romanov decode the legal tactics narcissists weaponize after you leave. How conflict avoidance becomes your abuser’s most ... Read more

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]]> https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Podcast-Thumbnail-Template.png Divorce Attorney Diana Romanov: Why Being Nice to a Narcissist Can Leave You Homeless false no 00:29:37 No no Feed Swap: Beneath the Apology — Shame, Image & the Illusion of Empathy with Renee Swanson & Dr. Mazella https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/feed-swap-beneath-the-apology-shame-image-the-illusion-of-empathy-with-renee-swanson-dr-mazella/ Fri, 14 Aug 2026 06:38:59 +0000 https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/feed-swap-beneath-the-apology-shame-image-the-illusion-of-empathy-with-renee-swanson-dr-mazella/ Why does their apology leave you feeling like the one who did something wrong? Continuing this week's feed swap, I'm sharing a conversation from Renee Swanson's Covert Narcissism Podcast — this time a guest interview with Dr. Anthony Mazzella, a psychodynamic therapist and host of The Narcissism Decoder.  Together they get underneath the behavior to ... Read more

The post Feed Swap: Beneath the Apology — Shame, Image & the Illusion of Empathy with Renee Swanson & Dr. Mazella appeared first on Kerry McAvoy, PhD.

]]> Why does their apology leave you feeling like the one who did something wrong? Continuing this week's feed swap, I'm sharing a conversation from Renee Swanson's Covert Narcissism Podcast — this time a guest interview with Dr. Anthony Mazzella, a psychodynamic therapist and host of The Narcissism Decoder.  Together they get underneath the behavior to ... Read more

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]]> false no 00:31:16 No no The Financial Abuse Tactic Narcissists Use When They ‘Have No Money https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/the-broke-narcissist-tactic-they-spend-your-money-while-claiming-to-have-none/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:12:04 +0000 https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/podcast/the-broke-narcissist-tactic-they-spend-your-money-while-claiming-to-have-none/ They said they were managing the finances — because you weren't good with money. That every purchase had to go through them. But somehow, there was always money for what they wanted. They made you feel like a child asking for an allowance — in your own home. And the moment you tried to leave, ... Read more

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]]> They said they were managing the finances — because you weren't good with money. That every purchase had to go through them. But somehow, there was always money for what they wanted. They made you feel like a child asking for an allowance — in your own home. And the moment you tried to leave, ... Read more

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]]> https://kerrymcavoyphd.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Viewers-Stories-Square-Cover-Art.png The Financial Abuse Tactic Narcissists Use When They ‘Have No Money false no 00:15:24 No no